Thursday, 30 July 2015

Hi guys! How are you all doing? Hard as it is to believe, I, a beauty blogger, only added my first MAC lipstick to my collection less than a month ago! I finally bit the bullet -heh- at the airport duty free! I had to indulge and see the big deal about beauty lovers round the world's most loved and coveted product. I was looking for a deep, vampy pink and Girl About Town was exactly what I was looking for! Girl About Town is described as a bright fuschia pink, but it's deep colour and blue undertones really drew me in. Let me tell you, after years of wondering what on earth the big deal is around these lipsticks, I believe the hype!

This is unlike anything lipstick I've ever had. It is so amazingly pigmented and has such intensity! It's not drying or greasy, it has a glossy finish. It's so opaque and one coat is more than enough. It has a lovely, creamy consistency and it feels so comfortable on the lips. It love how fantastic it looks with my skin tone. The longevity of this lipstick is something else! It easily lasts six or seven hours. It fades nicely and evenly, leaving a stain. One swipe of this lipstick is plenty!
Due to its glossy finish and creamy consistency, it's quite hydrating on the lips. I adore the formula of this lipstick so much, that I have to say, of all my lipsticks, it's the best formula.

Rocking Girl About Town (and a flower)

The packaging, oh my, the packaging. A beautiful bullet shaped lipstick, black as my soul. There's a nice weight to it, and it feels (and looks) every inch of an almost €20 lipstick. I love everything about this lipstick! The formula, colour, the pigment, and the intensity. I fear I may have to buy more. (Just don't tell my poor wallet, it's been through the mill enough). I got MAC's Girl About Town at the airport duty free, so it cost me €16.50, compared to its usual €19.50. I give it 10/10!

Monday, 27 July 2015

Hi everyone! How are you all doing? Today, I'll be talking about the Nicka K New York Colourluxe blush and the Nicka K New York Hydro lipstick! I was lucky enough to receive these beauties from the The Beauty Crowd as their picks as Summer must haves! I seriously want so much from The Beauty Crowd website! I picked out the Nicka K New York Colourluxe blush in Mauve Rose and the Hydro lipstick in Euphoria to try out. First of all, I adore the gorgeous metallic effect packaging on both the lipstick and blush! Talk about photogenic, eh?

So, what did I think of them?

Nicka K Colourluxe blush

The packaging was a little different to what I'm used to. There's a puff applicator on the top for easy application, but I prefer to screw this off and use it as a loose powder. It has a really handy mirror on the top also. This blush comes in six different shades, and I went for something a bit different that my usual pale pinks, opting for a dusty mauve rose shade. Because it's a darker shade, I would use this more at night time, for a darker, more obvious look. Though I'm really quite pale, I love this shade on my skin, and it gives a healthy and warm tone to my face. It has a completely matte finish. Had I opted for a lighter shade, it would be a more understated blush, which would work just as well. The only thing I would say about this blush is that it's not the easiest blush to blend. If you do decide to use it without the puff applicator, be careful you don't pick up too much powder, as a little goes a long way with this blush! I give it a 7/10 and it costs £6.95 or €9.82.

Nicka K Hydro lipstick

Ohhh, I do love a good lipstick, and my collection is rapidly growing. The Nicka K Hydro lipsticks come in a whopping 24 shades, which is fantastic variety! You are sure to find a shade here you'll love. I especially love a dramatic lip, especially a purple shade. I decided on the shade Euphoria, which is a beautiful purple/orchid shade. Euphoria has blue undertones, which goes really well with my pale skin. I am loving this lipstick. The pigmentation is fantastic, and it lasts a long time on the lips. It has a satin finish and a lovely, creamy texture. Jojoba oil is added to these lipsticks, which makes them so hydrating and moisturising. It feels so comfortable on the lips. It fades quite nicely too, to a lighter colour, no dreaded lip liner fade here! It has a really lovely sweet smell and taste. I would absolutely buy this lipstick in more shades! I give it a 9/10 and it costs £4.95 or €7.

Have you ever tried anything from The Beauty Crowd or tried any of the Nicka K New York make-up? If so, what did you think of them? Let me know below!

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Hi guys! How are you all doing on this wonderful Thursday? It's almost the weekend, yay! We're almost there. :) Today, I'll be reviewing the Liphugs Faves collection from one of my favourite brands- Make-Up Revolution! If you read my Makeup Lust List, you would have seen these babies on it, and I finally got them! I just needed them in my life, simple as. It was a ''back in work, treat yo'self'' present. Too many treat yo'self presents lately...ahem. The delivery was so prompt too, I ordered them on a Thursday and they arrived on the following Tuesday!

In the five shades I received, there was a nice variety to choose from. The shades are: IWasn't Mixed Up- A light purple orchid. Keeps The Planet Spinning- A dark mauve/berry shade. We Have Come Too Far- A dusty pink/red. Love Can Set You Free- A pink/light brown nude shade. Lets Raise The Bar- A soft coral shade.

Top to bottom: I Wasn't Mixed Up, Keeps The Planet Spinning, We Have Come Too Far, Love Can Set You Free, Lets Raise The Bar.

My favourite shades from the five are Love Can Set You Free and Keeps The Planet Spinning. The nude in the collection, Love Can Set You Free, especially. Up until recently, I haven't been a fan of nude lips. I disliked them for years, it just reminded me too much of foundation lips and I thought it was boring, preferring a vampy and dramatic lip. I still prefer a dramatic lip look, but I am loving Love Can Set You Free, especially for work when I can't get away with too much make-up. I love all of the shades, they are all so wearable and all surprisingly suit me, which I so happy about! The pigment is great, they are opaque, and only need one coat. They feel so comfortable to wear and they have a satin to shiny finish.

They are hydrating and not drying, so they are perfect in hot and cold weather. I have to say, the longevity isn't the best, two or three hours, tops. Though they fade evenly and it's not an awful lipliner fade. It's so easy to apply, even though they aren't the longest lasting lipsticks, topping it up is no big deal. I absolutely adore the packaging, they look more expensive than they are. The taste isn't the nicest, but not too bad. The Liphug Faves, and any of the five Liphug collections cost £5 for five, it worked out at €10.44 for me, which is amazing value for money! They are €3.56 for one. I give the Make-Up Revolution Liphug Faves a 9/10, the longevity and taste the only drawbacks. I will absolutely be buying more!

Have you tried the Make-Up Revolution Liphugs? What did you think? Let me know below!

Monday, 20 July 2015

Hi guys! How are you all today? Today, I'll be talking about The Body Shop's Blue Corn Silk face mask. In my goody bag from the Irish Blogger Conference, I was happy to receive a €10 voucher for Athlone Town Centre. Out of it, I bought the Blue Corn Silk mask from The Body Shop. I use this mask as a weekly treatment and leave it on for 10 minutes. It's recommended for normal to oily skin types. I have combination skin, and during the Summer, I'm more prone to oily skin, especially around my t-zone, and long breakouts on my chin. I needed a new face mask, and I decided to give this a whirl!

The Blue Corn Silk mask is a three in one mask that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises. It promises to remove oil, impurities, dead skin cells and to moisturise. The key ingredients in this mask are: Kaolin- Benefits breakout prone skin. Improves the skin's balance. Reduces the level of pore clogging dirt and impurities, toxins and oil. Blue Corn Powder- Helps to clear clogged pores, buffs away dead skin cells. Firms tightens and brightens the skin. Grapefruit Seed Extract- Acts as a powerful, natural antiseptic. Neem Leaf Extract- Has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. When I use this mask, it has a cooling, tingling sensation, not everyone's cuppa tae, but I love it. It is a dry, clay like mask, much like Catastrophe Cosmetic. Great for oily skin and makes it easy to take off. Its rough, coarse texture makes it fantastic for exfoliation.

A little really goes a long way with this mask. Its thick consistency means you don't need to use a whole lot, so this pot will last me a long time! I really liked this mask. My skin felt like it has gotten a deep clean and it felt properly exfoliated. My skin felt softer, smoother, fresh and calmer. It looked and felt more hydrated and it looked cleaner overall. It felt any excess oil and impurities were drawn out. It is a great mask to throw on if you have normal/oily skin, especially around Summer. It's great to use if your skin feels or looks lacklustre.

The Body Shop Blue Corn Silk mask costs €19.95 for a 100ml pot. I give it a 9/10.

Have you tried his mask before> What is your favourite face mask? Let me know below!

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Hi guys, how are you all doing? Happy Thursday! Today I will be reviewing Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil, which I was lucky and happy to receive in my Irish Blogger Conference goody bag in May! I consider it pretty much the same thing as Bio Oil, but in the form of a spray. I loved Bio Oil and it did so much so me, so I was delighted to find it my my goody bag! Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil claims to improve the appearance of: Scars, stretchmarks, wrinkles, ageing, and dehydrated skin. It is recommended to use this twice a day wherever you need it. I don't use it daily -laziness- but I will try to use it daily! I use it after a shower on dry skin, stretchmarks- and recently, on a permanent scar.

The key ingredients in Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue oil are: Avocado- Relieves dryness and itching, reduces age spots and evens skin tone. Increases collagen in the skin. Grape Seed Oil- Moisturises, tightens and tones skin. An antioxidant with anti ageing properties. Diminishes sun and free radical damage. Rosehip Oil- Boosts skin regeneration and skin elasticity. Reduces signs of ageing. Helps improve the appearance of scars, stretchmarks, uneven skin tone and wrinkles. Vitamin E- Anti oxidant that helps reduce free radicals. Improves appearance of scars, stretchmarks and wrinkles. This spray is non greasy (yay!) but it does take a while to fully sink in to the skin. I love using it and I love this spray. It is fantastic on dry skin, and improves the dryness and texture of my legs after shaving. I've tried using this on the few stretchmarks that I have. Though Bio Oil reduced them from purple (and looking dreadful) I'm left with small, silver ones. I'm not too fussed over them and I'm not too sure if even Bio Oil could reduce them any more.

The one thing I wish was that this spray was more of a mist. It sprays directly to where you direct the spray, which means it can get on surrounding surfaces and on the floor. You don't want to go for a hop on the ground after using it, believe me. Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil has a nice subtle smell, very similar to rosehip oil. There are no colourants, preservatives or parabens included. I'm going to try use it more often on a permanent scar on my chest I've had since I was one from an operation. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, but it's annoying (and a little sore) if my chest turns red from the sun.

This tissue oil hydrates and softens my skin so well, leaving it silky soft. it also relieves any itchy patches in a jiffy. It's such a handy products to have around because it's suitable for so many different things. The Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil is available in Sam McCauley chemists across Ireland.

It costs €14.95 and I would buy it in the future! I give it an 8/10.

Have you ever tried the Bon Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil? What did you think? Let me know below!

Monday, 13 July 2015

Hi guys! How are you all doing? Today, I'm finally back in work after being out for weeks with a broken hand, yaaaay! Back to icing cakes and being awesome. ;) Today, I'll being talking about Lush's scrub/body butter bar, You Snap The Whip! In the past year, my skin has gotten dryer and I needed something to both moisturise and exfoliate my skin. Straight away, I was completely won over by the gorgeous smell! It smells like blackcurrant and bergamot oil, yum! You Snap The Whip feels really rough which I loved, I felt it could really get in there and do its thing. But it also felt nice and buttery, like it could moisturise and protect my skin.

The key ingredients in You Snap The Whip are: Fairtrade Cocoa Butter- Known for its softening, moisturising and conditioning properties, cocoa butter is used to soften and nourish the skin, keeping it supple. Organic Macadamia Nut Oil- Due to its nourishing and easily absorbed properties, macadamia nut oil makes an ideal skin conditioner. Powdered Charcoal- Absorbs excess oils and cleanses the skin deeply. Pumice- Fantastic for polishing skin, buffing away dead skin cells and cleaning skin. Blackcurrant and Bergamot essential oils- Relaxing and therapeutic properties. Gives You Snap The Whip that fantastic scent!

I loved You Snap The Whip so much! I use it sparingly in the shower, especially focusing on my legs. It's especially fantastic after shaving. I wet my skin and buff it all around and rub it in and wash it off. It's non greasy and glides on so smoothly. I only use it sparingly because I think because of the butters added, it will run out quite fast, maybe less than 10 uses. It moisturises my skin amazingly, leaving it so soft, and it buffs away dead skin fantastically. I wish the powdered charcoal or the pumice was more coarse, because I love a rougher scrub, but this does the job anyway.

I think You Snap The Whip will work that much more amazingly during the Winter months when my skin gets even drier, and I don't think I'll be able to do without You Snap The Whip during the winter! The gorgeous blackberry scent doesn't fade away quickly either. It lasts ages on my skin and on my pyjamas, which I really love!

You Snap The Whip cost me €7.90, which is so worth it! I would 100% repurchase and I give it a 9/10!

Have you ever tried You Snap The Whip? What did you think of it? Let me know below!

Friday, 10 July 2015

Hi guys! I've been in Amsterdam since Friday until Tuesday night, and I have been dying to tell you all about my adventures. To say that I had the time of my life, would be such an understatement, and I can't wait to return someday! I went to Amsterdam with my boyfriend to celebrate his 21st birthday, who also had a blast. I've always wanted to go to Amsterdam as it just seems like such a beautiful and liberating place to just be yourself, and it did not disappoint! We stayed in a gorgeous part of the city near the Museumplein area in an apartment.

The first night we were there, we decided to check out one of Amsterdam's most notorious spots- the Red Light District, to see if it lived up to its reputation. After trawling little short streets full of touristy shops and head shops, we finally found it. There were two different sides to the Red Light District, separated by a canal. I don't think the place is as sleazy as it's made out to be, and the Red Light District was smaller than I imagined. The working women in the windows were indeed, beautiful and cocksure, in the nicest sense of the word. There was something robotic about their poses, and a few were having a cigarette or on their phone. After the Red Light District, we went to the Sexmuseum, which only cost €4 to get in. I loved it and I thought it was so interesting to see all of the artefacts, like 1920's dancers dancing sticks. It's a real eye opener and funny in parts, like when a naked lady jumped out at me! It's important to keep an open mind and not be prudish if visiting it, because I think it really is a must see.

On Saturday, we woke up early and went to the Rijksmuseum. I love visiting museums and the Rijksmuseum had so much to see and offer! My favourite section was the Asian section. It's a huge place. I also loved seeing the collection of the origin of fashion magazines, the Rijksmuseum library, a massive brick of tea leaves, works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt. After the Rijksmuseum, we visited a very small place. Situated in a basement, it was called Electric Ladyland, and it's perfect if you want to see something interesting and more alternative. It's a museum of florescent art, one of its only kind in the world. It shows all types of rocks, common and rare finds around the world and how amazing they look under a black light. We were shown signs, tickets, ID cards, and the secret symbols they have on them. Something I found the most interesting was a UV sign used during the Prohibition Era, that showed up under black light that you could drink there. Wonderful place to visit! As a present to James, I booked us a Cocktail Cruise. We were given a cruise around the country side and the city, coming into the city as it started to light up. We told told secrets of the city, given two free cocktails and nibbles. I couldn't believe how amazing it was! I wholly, 1000% recommend going on a cruise when in Amsterdam! One of my favourite parts of the whole trip.

On Sunday, the first thing we did was join the almost two hour queue to visit something I have wanted to see for years and years- the Anne Frank House! When we went in, I couldn't believe I was actually there! I'll assume you all know Anne Frank's story when she went into hiding with her family and the Van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer. 263-267 Prinsengracht was the address of Opekta, a company which her father Otto Frank was managing director of. The floors which the company would have operated in was completely cleared out and replaced with artefacts, documents and dedicated to the Franks, Fritz Pfeffer, the van Pels and the four that helped keep the annexe a secret: Johannes Kleiman, Miep Gies, Victor Kugler and Bep Voskuijl. As we went up higher, we saw the moveable bookcase that hid the door into their living quarters, which was so so amazing to see, as even though it was mostly cleaned out, sinks, walls and the floors were keep the same as the were in 1942. Mindblowing place to visit. Even if you aren't interested in history, you have to see it! Then we ventured to Vondelpark, a huge park in Amsterdam. To be honest, I thought it'd be better, but it's so dirty! Cigarette and joint butts everywhere. It was disgusting haha, so we didn't stay long. Drink prices in Amsterdam is ridiculously expensive. So on Sunday, we decided to buy drink in a nearby supermarket, grab dinner and get off to have them around 11pm near a grassy bank near the canal, listening to music, chilling and watching the sky. It was perfect!

Monday was our last full day in Amsterdam, and as we had seen and done most of what we wanted to do, we thought we'd take it a bit easier and take it down a notch and relax a bit more. We went to check out the Jewish area of Amsterdam, which was really beautiful, but not much different from the rest of Amsterdam. There was a Portuguese synagogue I wanted to see but it cost €15 just to go inside. We also stumbled upon two big, fantastic markets on Monday, the Albert Cyupstraat and the Waterlooplein markets. Some of the stalls were so unusual, with beautiful art prints, funky hippy clothes, and my favourite, a stall with old stamps around the world, old coins and such. I couldn't believe what I stumbled upon- stamps from the Third Reich! I had to pick them up! If you're ever in Amsterdam, make sure you treat yourself to a big fresh Stroopwafel. Oh christ. I can't oversell how delicious they are!

And that is our trip to Amsterdam! I couldn't get over how beautiful everywhere was in Amsterdam, such an interesting place that I'll never forget. I was so at ease around the Dutch people, they were so chilled out, friendly and happy. Though I made an effort to speak a little Dutch, most spoke happily in English to me before I had the chance to dazzle them with my sub par Dutch. ;) The city has a relaxed and safe atmosphere. I loved every moment. :)

Have you ever been to Amsterdam? What did you think? If not, would you like to go someday? Let me know below!

About Me

Hi there! I'm Kim. I have a huge interest in fashion, baking and history. I'm love horror movies and fascinated with the paranormal. Avid Sims, music and green tea fan. Don't be shy and say hello :)
To get in contact with me, please email me at kim000p@hotmail.com